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East of Tampa is growing fast. We’re opening a few sponsor spots for businesses that want to reach local families and homeowners.
Good morning neighbors.
I love Tampa. I really do. It’s one of the best cities in the country, and there’s always something happening.
In another version of life, I imagine living closer to the center of it all. Walking along Bayshore. Heading downtown for dinner. Catching a Lightning game on a random weeknight. Being right in the middle of that energy.
But when I left active duty Army, my wife and I made a different decision. We chose to build our life in the suburbs.
We settled out here in Brandon, Riverview, FishHawk, Apollo Beach, and Valrico. This part of the region doesn’t always get the same attention, but it’s where so much of the growth is happening. New schools. Youth sports fields full every weekend. Small businesses opening their doors and families putting down roots.
It may not have the historic buildings or decades-old storefronts, but it has something just as important. It has momentum. It has people investing in their future here.
When people ask where I live, I tell them I live East of Tampa. And I’m proud of it.
If you live here too, you know exactly what I mean.
In today’s Buzz:
🏎️ Get the details for race weekend
💆 Who needs a neck cracked?
🎪 Stay busy with these events
🚌 Important school dates
🎉 New library coming to our area
🏁 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg | Downtown St. Petersburg | St. Pete | Feb 27–Mar 1 | More
Major Indy Car race weekend featuring high-speed racing, live entertainment, food vendors, and events throughout downtown St. Petersburg.
Ribbon Cutting: Current Chiropractic
1108 Bloomingdale Ave — Valrico
Current Chiropractic will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, March 6 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at their Valrico location. The clinic has been serving the Brandon, Valrico, and FishHawk communities since 2015, providing chiropractic care focused on injury recovery, mobility, and long-term spinal health.
Go let them know we sent you 👉 More
☕ Brandon REI Coffee Meetup | Just Love Coffee Cafe | Brandon | Feb 26 | More
Casual morning coffee meetup bringing together local professionals, entrepreneurs, and community members for conversation and networking.
🏁 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg | Downtown St. Petersburg | St. Pete | Feb 27–Mar 1 | More
Major IndyCar race weekend featuring high-speed racing, live entertainment, food vendors, and events throughout downtown St. Petersburg.
🏘️ Hillsborough County Neighborhoods Expo | Feeding Tampa Bay | Tampa | Feb 28 | More
Community expo connecting residents with local services, housing resources, neighborhood programs, and organizations across Hillsborough County.
🎨 Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts | Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park | Tampa | Feb 28 | More
Large outdoor art festival featuring hundreds of artists, live demonstrations, food vendors, and family-friendly activities along the riverfront.
🥃 Bourbon and BBQ Festival | Tampa Bay Downs | Tampa | Feb 28 | More
Food and drink festival featuring BBQ vendors, bourbon tastings, live music, and a social outdoor atmosphere at Tampa Bay Downs.
🍓 Florida Strawberry Festival | Florida Strawberry Festival Grounds | Plant City | Mar 1 | More
One of Florida’s largest festivals featuring live concerts, rides, food vendors, exhibits, and family-friendly entertainment.
🛍️ FishHawk Ranch Market Day | Park Square | FishHawk | Mar 1 | More
Local vendor market featuring handmade goods, food vendors, and community gathering in the center of FishHawk Ranch.
🤝 Junior League Prospective Member Pop-Up | Junior League Pop-Up Location | Brandon | Mar 1 | More
Informational event for those interested in joining the Junior League, featuring networking, community information, and opportunities to get involved.
🍓 Strawberry Festival Day: Mar 2
🏝️ Spring Break: Mar 16–20
📚 No School: April 3, 2026
✏️ No School: May 25, 2026
🎓 Last Day of School: May 29
School Calendar
🏗️ New Brandon Public Library Coming to Lumsden Road
W. Lumsden Road — Brandon
Hillsborough County is building a brand-new Brandon Public Library to replace the existing Brandon Regional Library, which has served the community since 1991. The new 25,000 square foot facility will include modern features like meeting rooms, workshop spaces, an audio-visual studio, and expanded children’s learning areas.
Construction is expected to begin in 2026 and finish in 2027 as part of a $17–22 million investment in the Brandon area. The new location reflects continued population growth across Brandon, Riverview, and surrounding communities, and will serve as a central hub for education, technology access, and community programs. More
If you’re buying, selling, or just keeping an eye on the East of Tampa real estate market, check out our friends over at The Red Sash Group. More
Thanks for reading East of Tampa Buzz.
See you all Friday.
